Knitting machine



Now/28, 1944. LAMBACH 2,363,535

- KNITTING MACHINE Filed 001; 21, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 {M 5M7 L AMBA C/l Nov; 28,1944. 7 4 LAMBACH 2,363,535

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 21, 1943 2 Sheets- Shep: 2

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,363,535 KNITTING MACHINE Fritz Lambach, Tenafly, N. J. Application October 21, 1943, Serial No. 507,059 9 Claims. (01. 66-86) My invention relates to textile machines,'and

. more particularly to a knitting machine with a main camshaft, which may be rotated either by.

an electromotor or by'a hand wheel secured to a hand wheel shaft.

An object of my invention is to provide a knitting machine of above described type with means causing an automatic disengagement of the hand In order to carry out my invention into practice I provide a knitting machine comprising: a

main shaft, an electromotor connected with said main shaft, a switch in circuit with said .electromotor for the controlthereof, a hand wheel shaft, a clutch having a shiftable member, said clutch being interposed between said hand wheel,

shaft and said main shaft, and a mechanism arranged for the control of said shiftable member, said mechanism being associated with said switch for an automatic disengagement of said two shafts from each other by said clutch simultaneously with a switchin on of said electromotor by said switch and for an automatic engagement of said two shafts with each other by said clutch simultaneously with a switching off of said electromotor by saidswitch.

The above mentioned objects and advantages as well as other objects and advantages will be more fully disclosed in the following specification reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

wherein:

Fig. l is a diagrammatlcal end view of a warp knitting machine equipped with a controlling mechanism according to my invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail end elevation of the controlling mechanism shown in Fig. 1, some parts being broken away, and

electromotor I4 through the medium of a belt l6 trained around a disc l8 keyed tcthe main cam shaft l2.

As best shown in Fig. 1 a sprocket gear 20 is keyed to the end of the main cam shaft [2. A chain is trained around th sprocket gear 20 and another sprocket gear 24 rotatably mounted on a stud 26 projecting from the frame ill of the knitting machine. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the sprocket gear 24 is rigidly connected with a gear 28 meshing with a pinion 30 forming an integral part of the member 32 of a friction clutch generally indicated by 34. The member 32 of the clutch 34 is rotatably mountedon a sleeve 36 secured to the hand wheel shaft 38 carrying the hand wheels 40 (only one hand wheel being shown in the drawings). The hand wheel shaft 38 in turn is rotatably arranged in bearings .42 (only one bearing being shown in the drawings), which are attached to the frame 10 by brackets or the like. The 'hand wheel shaft 38 is provided with a key for engagement with a groove 46 in the shiftable member 48 of the sponding discs :52 of the axially immovable clutch member 32. In the position shown in Fig. 3 the discs 52 of the clutch member 32 are disengaged ally mounted at 56 on a bracket 51 secured to the frame In in a suitable manner. The controlling lever 54 has a forked arm 58 carrying pins 60 in engagement with an annular groove 62 of the shiftable clutch member 48. Furthermore the controlling lever 54 has an arm 64 carrying a pin 66 in engagement with a cam slot 68 on the cylindrical surface of a cylindrical element 10 secured to a switch rod 12 by a set screw 14. The switch rod 12 carrying handles l6'(only one being shown in Fig. 3) is joumalled in suitable bearings of the frame ID of the knitting machine and serves to control the switch 18 (Fig: 1') of the electromotor through an arm secured to the free end of the switch rod 12 and a connecting rod 82 having its ends connected with the electromotor I4 causes at the same time a rotation of the controlling lever 54 about the pivot 58 by means of the cam'slot 68 of the cylindrical element I8, so that the position of the shiftable member 48 of the clutch 34 is changed simulta neously with a change in the position of the switch I8. The various members of the controlling mechanism for the clutch 34 are arranged and shaped in such a way that the discs 50 of the clutch member 48 are disengaged from the discs 52 of the clutch member 32 when the switch I8 of the electromotor is in the switching on position, and that said discs 50 and 52 are in engagement with each other when the switch I8 is in the switching off position. Obviously, the engagement of the discs 50 and 52 with each other permits a rotation of the main camshaft I2 by a hand wheel 40 through the medium of the hand wheel shaft 38, the clutch 34, the gear 28 in mesh with the pinion 30 of the clutch 34 and the chain drive 24, 22, 20.

The extreme positions of the switch rod I2 are limited by an abutment 84 projecting from the frame I for engagement with a lug 86 or 88 projecting from a disc-like portion 90 of the cyl'n drical element I8.

The switch rod I2 and consequently the switch I8 as well as the shiftable member 48 of theclutch 34 may be held in their extreme positions by a resilient locking member 92 secured to a lug 94 projecting from the.frarne Ill. Said resilient locking member 92 has a V-shaped-end 98 for engagement with notches 98 and I00 arranged at a predetermined distance on the surface of the disc-like portion 90 of the element I8. When the locking member 92 is in engagement with the notch 98, the shiftable member 48 of the clutch 34 is held in a position, wherein the discs 58 are disengaged from the discs 52; when the locking member 92 is in engagement with the notch I00, the shiftable element 48 of the clutch 34 is held in a position, wherein the discs 50 are engaged described switch rod 12 is turned in counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figs, 1 and 2 until the lug 86 abuts against the abutment 84 as shown in the controlling lev r 54 through the cam slot 68 into a position, wherein the discs of the shiftable clutch member 48 are in engagement with the discs 52 of the clutch member 34. Thus, the shafts -38 and I2 are automatically engaged with each other simultaneously with the switching off of the electromotor I4 by the switch I8. Now the main cam shaft I2 of the knitting machine may be rotated by a hand wheel 40, if desired. I

- I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is clear that numerous changes and omissions may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. For example,

Figs. 2 and 3. This rotation of the switch rod with the switching on of the electromotor I4 by the switch I8. I

In order to stop the knitting machine; the

switch rod I2 is rotated in clockwise direction as viewed-in Figs. 1 and 2, until the lug 88 abuts againstthe abutment 84. This rotation of the switc rod 12 brings the switch "into a position for ,witching off of the electromot'or I4. Furtherm o i'e 'this rotation of the switch rod 12 causes an automatic engagement of the hand wheel shaft 38 with'the main cam shaft I2 by a movement of the mechanism according to the invention may be applied to any other knitting machine than a warp knitting machine which is equipped with a hand wheel shaft for a temporary rotation of the 7 main cam shaft by a hand wheel. Furthermore, a different type of a clutch maybe used instead of the clutch shown in the drawings. Moreover, the shiftable member of the clutch used maybe controlled by a difierent type of cam means associated with the startand stop-switch of the electromotor. Another modification of the invention may consist in a diflerent type of locking means for holding the shiftable member of the clutch in its extrem positions.

What I claim is:

1. A knitting machine comprising: a main shaft, an electromotor connected with saidmain shaft, a switch in circuit with said electromotor for the control thereof, a hand wheel shaft, a clutch having a shiftable member, said clutch being interposed between said hand wheel shaft and said main shaft, and a mechanism arranged for the control of said shiftable member ofv said clutch, said mechanism being associated with said I switch for an automatic disengagement of said two shafts from each other by said clutch simultaneously with a switching on of said electrometor by said switch and for an automatic. engagement of said two shafts with each other by said clutch simultaneously with a switching oil of said electromotor by said switch.

2; A knitting machine comprising: a main shaft, an electromotor connected with said main shaft, a switch in circuit with said electromotor for the control thereof, a hand wheel shaft, a clutch having a shiftable member, said clutch being interposed between said hand wheel shaft and said main shaft, a mechanism arranged for the control of said shiftable member of said clutch, said mechanism being associated with said switch for an automatic disengagement of 'said two shafts from each other by said clutch simultaneously with a switching on of said electromotor by said switch and for an automatic engagement of said two shafts with each other by said clutch simultaneously with a switching off of said electromotor by said switch, and locking means arranged for holding said shiftable member of said v clutch in its extreme positions.

3. A knitting machine comprising: a main shaft, an electromotor connected with said main shaft, a switch in circuit with said'electromotor for the control thereof, a hand wheel shaft, a clutch having a shiftable member, said clutch being interposed between said hand wheel shaft and said main shaft, a cam connected with said switch, and ,a lever arranged for the control of said shiftable member of said clutch, said lever being controlled by said cam for an automatic disengagement of said two shafts from each other by said clutch simultaneously with a switching on of said electromotor by said switch and for an automatic engagement of said two shafts with each other by said clutch simultaneously with a switching ofi of said electromotor by said switch.

4. A knitting machine comprising: a main shaft, an electromotor connected with said main shaft, a switch in circuit with said electromotor for the control thereof, a hand wheel shaft, a clutch having a shiftable member, said clutch being interposed between said hand wheel shaft and said main shaft, a cam connected with said switch, a leverarranged for the control of said shiftable member of said clutch, said lever being controlled by said cam for an automatic disengagement of said two shafts from each other by said clutch simultaneously with a switching on of said electromotor by said switch and for an automatic engagement of said two shafts with each other by said clutch simultaneously with a switching off of said electromotor by said switch, and locking means arranged for holding said shiftable member of said clutch in its extreme positions,

5. A knitting machine comprising: a main shaft, an electromotor connected with said main shaft, a switch in circuit with said electromotor V for the control thereof, a switch rod connected with said switch for actuating same, a hand wheel shaft, a clutch having a shiftable member, said clutch being interposed between said hand wheel shaft andsaid main shaft, a cam secured to said switch rod, and a lever arranged for the control of said shiftable member of said clutch, said lever being controlled by said cam for an automatic disengagement of said two shafts from each other by said clutch simultaneously with a switching on of said electromotor by said switch in engagement with said cam slot for an auto- H and for an automatic 'engagementof said two shafts with each other by said clutch sim'ultane-' V ously with a switching oil of said electromotor by said switch.

6. A knitting machine comprising: a main shaft, an electromotor connected with said main shaft, a switch in circuit with said electromotor for the control thereof, a switch rod connected with saidswitch for actuating same, a hand wheel shaft, a clutch having a shiftable member, said clutch being interposed between said hand wheel shaft and said main shaft, a cam secured to said switch rod, a lever arranged for the control of said shiftable member of said clutch, said lever being controlled by said cam for an automatic disengagement of said two shafts from each other by said clutch simultaneously with a switching on of said electromotorby'said switch and for an automatic engagement of said two shafts with each other by said clutch simultaneously witha switching off of said electromotor by said switch,

and lockingmeans arranged for holding said shiftable member of said clutch in its extreme positions.

7. A knitting machine comprising: a main with said switch for actuating same, a hand wheel shaft, a clutch having a shiftable member, said clutch being interposed between said hand wheel shaft and said main shaft, a cylindrical element secured to said switch rod, said cylindrical element having a cam slot on its cylindrical surface, and a lever arranged for the control of said shiftable member of said clutch, said lever being in engagement with said cam slot for an automatic disengagement of said two shafts from each other by said clutch simultaneously with a switching on of said electromotor by said. switch and for an automatic engagement of said two shafts with each other by said clutch simultaneously with a switching 01f of said electromotor by said switch.

8. A knitting machine comprising: a main shaft, an electromotor connected'wlth said main shaft, a switch in circuit with said electromotor for the control thereof, a switch rod connected with said switch for actuating same, a. hand wheel shaft, a clutch having a shiftable member, said clutch being interposed between said hand wheelshaft and said main shaft, a cylindrical elementlsecured to said switch rod, said cylindrical element having a cam slot on its cylindrical surface, a lever arranged for the control of said shiftable member of said clutch, said lever being holding said switch rod in its extreme positions.

9. A knitting machine comprising: a main shaft, an electromotor connected with said main shaft, a switch in circuit with said .electromotor for the control thereof, a switch rod connected with said switch for actuating same, a hand wheel shaft, a clutch having a shiftable member, said clutch being interposed between said hand wheel shaft and said main shaft, a cylindrical element secured to said switch'rod, said cylindrical element having a cam slot on its cylindrical surface and having two notches arranged at a predetermined distance on its cylindrical surface, a lever,

arranged for the control of said shiftable member of said clutch, said lever being in engagement with said cam for an automatic disengagement of said two shaftsii'rom each other by said clutch simultaneously with'a switching on of said electromotor by said switch and foran automatic engagement of said two shafts with each other shaft, an electromotor connected with said main shaft, a in circuit with said clectromotor for the control thereof, a switch rod connected by said clutch simultaneously with a switching off of said electromotor bysaid switch, and a spring loaded locking member arranged for engagement with said notches onthe surface of said cylindrical element so as to hold said swi rod in its extreme positions.

FRITZ MACH. 

